Authorities plan to tackle London's growing nappy mountain

LONDON - London Assembly's Environment Committee is to consider Wednesday what action mayor Sadiq Khan and town halls across the capital should do to reduce the use and impact of baby nappies and personal products.

A report to the committee says 200,000 tonnes of period product waste and 100,000 tonnes of nappy waste are generated every year in London.

"The majority of nappies and period products in London will be single-use. Considering the number of babies in London, Real Nappies for London suggested that this amounts to over 100,000 tonnes of nappy waste every year," said a report to the committee.

It added: "In terms of period products, a person could use over 9,000 tampons or 3,000 pads in their lifetime."

The majority of nappies will end up in landfill or be incinerated, the report said. Period products were identified by Thames Water as a component of sewer blockages and fatbergs.

Real Nappies London estimated that, without collection costs, local authorities in London spend around $15 million on disposing of nappies each year.

Similar to nappies, without a reusable or recycling option, period products also end up in landfill, incineration or flushed down toilets.

The Women's Environment Network reported that period products and cotton buds make up over 7 percent of items flushed down toilets in the UK.

A spokesperson for the assembly said: "Nappies, tampons, incontinence and period pads, unless explicitly stated, all include plastic. Manufacturers layer different materials to increase a product's absorbency, but there are no statutory requirements or guidelines requiring them to list the materials in the different layers."

"There are reusable alternatives, which reduce waste and fossil fuels and contribute to a circular economy."